Date: 01/31/2002 at 23:30:36
From: Doctor Peterson
Subject: Re: Compatible numbers to estimate quotient
Hi, Matt.
_______
38 ) 1625
You want to replace 38 with a nearby number that divides easily into
something near 1625. (That's what "compatible" means: they play well
together.) Try just rounding it up to the nearest 10:
_______
40 ) 1625
Is there a simple multiple of 40 near 1625? Yes, since 4 times 4 is
16, 40 times 40 is 1600. So our compatible numbers are
____40_
40 ) 1600
Our estimate is 40. The actual quotient is 42.76, so we're not too far
off.
Here is a brief discussion in our archives:
Compatible Number Method for Estimating
http://mathforum.org/dr.math/problems/salman.09.10.01.html
- Doctor Peterson, The Math Forum
http://mathforum.org/dr.math/